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Kevin Harvick has to work his way through traffic at Martinsville Speedway

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Kevin Harvick watches his crew in the garage as he waits for practice to begin for Sunday's Sprint Cup Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (The Associated Press)

Denny Hamlin (11) makes his way out of the garage at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014, to practice for Sunday's Sprint Cup Series auto race. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (The Associated Press)

Kevin Harvick has picked his way through traffic before at Martinsville Speedway, never when the stakes were so high.

A poor qualifying effort has Harvick starting 33rd, behind all the other title contenders, in Sunday's race on the Virginia short track.

Because the rest of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship field is starting in the top 13, Harvick won't have much time to avoid being lapped.

His Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet was considerably faster on Saturday — he was fastest in the final practice of the weekend — so crew chief Rodney Childers didn't seem too concerned about race day.